As the Poqomchi' people increasingly migrate to the United States for safety, economic opportunities, and a better quality of life, language access is one of their biggest safely into their new surroundings.obstacles. This is where Poqomchi' interpreters step in and help migrants integrate.
For the Poqomchi', whose cultural and linguistic heritage has stood the test of time, interpreters play a major role in bridging the gap between their traditional ways of life and the challenges of modern migration.
This blog explores the Poqomchi' language, why the Poqomchi' are migrating, and the support interpreters can provide them as they settle in the United States.
Who speaks Poqomchi'?
Approximately 114,000 people speak Poqomchi', primarily in the Guatemalan departments of Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, and Quiché. With relatively few speakers, Poqomchi’ is considered a vulnerable language.
Poqomchi', sometimes also simply called Poqom, belongs to the K'ichean branch of the Mayan language family. It is very similar to Poqomam and shares linguistic and cultural similarities with other K'ichean languages like K’iche’, Kaqchikel, and Q’eqchi’. Poqomchi' has a linguistic history spanning almost five centuries. However, despite being documented for nearly 500 years, beginning with Spanish missionaries in the 16th century, it is one of the least documented Mayan languages.
There are two variants of Poqomchi': Eastern Poqomchi' and Western Poqomchi', which are largely mutually intelligible.
The Poqomchi' have a long history of oppression. Before the Spanish conquest in the 1530s, they were ruled by the K’iche’. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Guatemalan government confiscated most of their communal lands, giving them to large corporate landowners. In the 20th century, the Poqomchi' aligned with leftist movements advocating for agrarian reform to reclaim their lands. The Guatemalan government responded with violence, which escalated in the 1980s. Many Poqomchi' fled the country during this period.
The Poqomchi', who live in mountainous areas, depend heavily on farming and grow crops like corn and beans. They also produce traditional clothing and crafts using sheep's wool. While many still wear handmade clothing, urban areas are shifting to Western-style clothes.
Why are the Poqomchi' migrating?
Poqomchi' migration is the result of centuries of political, social, economic, and environmental factors. Chronic poverty, escalating violence and crime, systemic discrimination, and a lack of government support have all forced many people to migrate to seek stability and better opportunities.
Most Poqomchi' communities rely on subsistence farming, but climate change has made this increasingly difficult. A decade of hurricanes, droughts, and fluctuating weather patterns have decimated crops and livestock, resulting in families fleeing and migrating for food and economic stability.
It's not just the environment that's impacting their land. Violent land evictions are a constant threat, as extractive industries continue to encroach on their lands, often with government support. These evictions disrupt traditional farming and have resulted in violence and human rights violations in their communities.
Systemic discrimination and exclusion have also left the Poqomchi' vulnerable to inequality at all levels. Centuries of colonialism and marginalization have drastically restricted their access to quality education, health services, and representation in politics and society. Consequently, they face limited access to social resources and economic opportunities.
In Guatemala, gang violence is widespread, and Indigenous communities like the Poqomchi' are often targets of extortion, threats, and violent attacks. A corrupt system that fails to protect them puts them at even greater risk. High levels of domestic violence and the recruitment of youth by gangs also contribute to the need for unaccompanied children and families to leave for safety.
The Roles And Importance Of Poqomchi' Interpreters
Poqomchi' interpreters help migrants to express themselves and understand the information they are given, allowing them to better advocate for themselves and make more informed decisions.
Interpreters act as trusted guides for Poqomchi' migrants, guiding them through the complex U.S. immigration system, and helping them get access to medical, legal, and social services. In settings like doctor's appointments, immigration proceedings, and court hearings, qualified Poqomchi' interpreters are indispensable.
Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Poqomchi' cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.
The relatively small number of Poqomchi' speakers reduces the pool of individuals available to work as professional interpreters. This scarcity makes it even more difficult to arrange for interpreters in specialized fields like medicine and law, where interpretation requires advanced skills and certification.
Some Poqomchi' interpreters are available online, but the growing demand for their services often limits their availability. Providing Poqomchi' speakers with fair language access is difficult because of this shortage.
Work With A Poqomchi' Interpreter from Maya Bridge
At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Poqomchi' and all of its variants to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Poqomchi' to English interpretation to countless government agencies, healthcare organizations, and courts. As a small, niche interpretation agency specializing in Latin American Indigenous languages, we are uniquely equipped to offer on-demand Poqomchi' interpretation, 24 hours a day.
We offer:
Video Remote Poqomchi' Interpretation
Over-the-phone Poqomchi' Interpretation
In-person Poqomchi' Interpretation
Court-certified Poqomchi' Interpretation
Medical-certified Poqomchi' Interpretation
Poqomchi' Translation
Poqomchi' Voiceover and Subtitles
Learn more about our language services here.
Maya Bridge - A Leading Advocate For Latin American Indigenous Language Access In The U.S.
Since 2021, Maya Bridge Language Services has been advocating for increased access for speakers of Mayan and other Latin American and global Indigenous languages here in the United States. Maya Bridge is a mission-driven, niche interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services for over 60 Indigenous languages from Latin America, as well as African, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, and other Indigenous languages.
We have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the U.S. and throughout the world to ensure that speakers of Indigenous languages can fully understand and be understood in important situations like healthcare, legal settings, in disaster and emergency response scenarios, and in receiving access to government programs.
Contact us to schedule a meeting or call us anytime, day or night, at (801) 753-8568.
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